On the first day of his six-day Apostolic Visit abroad, Pope Leo XIV paid a visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, known as Anıtkabir, in Ankara, Türkiye. The visit comes as part of the Pope’s official trip to Türkiye and Lebanon, aimed at promoting dialogue, unity, and peace.
Accompanied by an official delegation including the Minister, the Vice-Governor, and the Commander of the Mausoleum, Pope Leo signed the Book of Honour and wrote: “I give thanks to God for being able to visit Türkiye, and I invoke upon this country and its people an abundance of peace and prosperity.”
Anıtkabir, which honors the founder of modern Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, symbolizes the nation’s birth, modernization, and secularism. It also houses the tomb of İsmet İnönü, the country’s second president, whose resting place faces Atatürk’s on the opposite side of the Ceremonial Ground. The site comprises the Road of Lions, the Ceremonial Plaza, the Hall of Honour, and the surrounding Peace Park.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit underscores his mission of fostering unity and peace, engaging with local authorities and civil society as part of his Apostolic journey in the region.
